Siphon and theftproof gas tank cover



Feb. 21, 1939. J. A. ROBERTS 2,147,755

STPHON AND THEFTPROOF GAS TANK COVER INVENTOR Mu-M Feb. 21, 1939.

J. A. ROBERTS STPHON AND THEFTPROOF GAS TANK COVER Filed May 25. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented. Feb. 21, 1939 2,147,755

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIPHON AND' THEFTPROOF GAS TANK OUVER John A. Roberts, New York, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1935, Serial No. 23,461

'z claims. (ci. zzo-s6) This invention relates to a Siphon and theftof the particular and specially designed outer proof gas tank cover, the object and purpose of contour of the aforesaid depressible valve head. which, among others, is to provide an improved With the foregoing and .other objects in view, cover or cap especially intended for use on gasoas will hereinafter become apparent, this invenline tanks of automobiles, motorcycles, motor- 'tion comprises the constructions, combinations 5 boats. airplanes, tanks, tractors, or any other and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, vehicles, machines or equipment similar to or akin disclosed and shown on the accompanying drawto those listed or any other vehicle using gasoline ings. In these drawings,

or any other liquid fuel for power or as a means Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the of locomotion, requiring by reason thereof a tank siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover, oi.' my 1,0

or other similar receptacle. invention, y

A further object of this invention is to provide Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the nozzle` a siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover or inserted in the gasoline tank cover. cap which can replace and may be substitutedv Figure 3 is a top plan view of the gasoline l5 for the conventional gasoline tank cap or cover tank cap. lli

now ordinarily employed, and commonly used, Figure 4 is a top plan view of an element of the and which, when once installed into position begasoline tank cover comprising my invention. comes permanently locked in such a manner as Figure 5 is a side view, partly in section and to prevent removal thereof and prevent theft of with parts broken away, of the gasoline tank gasoline from the tank. cover, comprising my invention, positioned in the 20 A further object of this inventionis to provide neck of the gasoline tank. a siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover Figure 6 is a 4sectional view of the bottom of which may be as quickly and easily installed in the gasoline tank cover or cap taken on line 6-6 place ofthe conventional gas tank cover or cap of Figure 5, and.

now ordinarily and commonly used and employed, Figure '7 is a top plan view of "the plate that 95 as is required in the removing or replacing the covers the bottom of the gasoline tank cover or aforesaid gas tank cover or cap now commonly cap when assembled.

used and employed, and which, however, when There is shown at I0 a fragmentary representa-` once installed, automatically locks itself in such tion of the gasoline tank (or similar receptacle) 39 amanner as to prevent removal thereof. of an automobile (etc., as listed hereinbefore) 30 A further object of this invention is to provide or other vehicle, having the usual opening II, a siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover or provided with the usual, interrupted screw I2 procap in which is enclosed a ratchet arrangement jecting therefrom to receive the conventional which co-operates with automatic cutters or locks, cover or cap.

insuring the functioning of said cutters or locks, The siphon and theftproof cover I4 constitut- 35 V thereby further rendering impossible the removal ing this invention comprises a short cylindrical of said gasoline tank cover or cap. member I5, the open end of which is secured to Still a further object of this inveition is to a dome cap I6. The cylindrical member I5 is provide a siphon and theftproof gas tank cover provided with a plurality of longitudinal V- 0 which co-operates with the gasoline hose nozzle shaped slits or different shaped perforatlons I1 40 so as to admit the nozzle of the aforesaid gasoline spaced around the side walls thereof and a pluhose thereinto, and to allow and to permit the rality of very small openings I 8 in bottom 20 gasoline and/or other liquid fuel,`as hereinbefore thereof.

provided, to be poured into the tank therethrough, Extending through an aperture I9 in the spring but which automatically closes itself when said guide hub 35 in the bottom 20 of the cylindrical nozzle is removed therefrom. member I5 is a stem 2| of a depressible valve 22.

Still a. further object of this invention is to- A spring 23 secured between the bottom 20 of provide a spring closed valve on this improved cylindrical member I5 on spring guide hub 35 gas tank cover, which valve is depressed by the and on another suitably formed and special de- 5 nozzle of the gasoline hose, and which, together` signed spring guide hub 24 on underside of de- 50 with a specially designed V-shaped ridge or spacer pressible valve head 22 serves to urge the aforeoperates in such a `manner as to preclude and said depressiblc valve head into closing position obviate the possibility of clogging or blocking the within the port.25.in the dome cap I6.

mouth or opening of the gasoline hose nozzle, A ground bevel 26'on valve head 22 is conl. when pouring gas etc. into the tank, because structed so as to fit in snugly with ground seat u 36 on dome cap I6 at port 25, and cooperates with the aforesaid ground seat 36 so as to limit the upward or return movement of the depressibie valve 22 so as to hold it in a tightly closed position, as shown in Figure 1 and prevents the entrance of dirt, dust, water or other foreign matter therethrough.

A breather hole 21 may be suitably located near top of cylindrical member I5 and underside of dome cap I6 through plate 40, as appears more specifically in Figures 1, 2, and '1 to permit the entrance of air into gasoline tank I0, as the gasoline is consumed in the usual manner.

In order to hold and keep cover I4 in locked position in gasoline tank I8 and in order to ren* der said cover I4 unremovable, the cylindrical member I5 is provided with two steel blocks 30 as shown in Figure 5, and on which are fastened hardened cutters or locks 28 which cooperate with interrupted screw I2 in the usual manner, allowing cover I4 to be inserted through opening II, the neck of the gasoline tank, and secured by the cutter or lock 28 in the same manner that the conventional cap, now commonly used, is secured thereto.

However, cover I4 cannot be removed or taken out because of the biting effect ofthe sharp edge of cutter or lock 28 on interrupted screw I2 when same is turned in the opposite direction required to put the cover I4 thereon. By reason thereof cover I4 can be easily placed in position in the same manner as the conventional cover now commonly used but cannot be removed.

To further insure the unremovability of cover I4 a ratchet feature 3'9 has been employed and placed directly underneath dome cap I6 and di rectly over plate 40 as appears in Figure 5, which ratchet co-operates with a pair of pawls 31, as appears more specifically in Figure 6. Ratchet 39, which is a one-Way ratchet, in no way affects or interferes with the operation of the cutters or locks, hereinbefore described in the preceding paragraph and co-operates with the said cutters or locks 28, by reason of the cooperation of said ratchet 39, Figure 6, and a pair of pawls 31 that engage the ratchet 39, at all times, in .the direction necessary to fasten and render unremovable, cover I4, when once installed into gasoline tank neck II.

Ratchet 39 permits turning cover I4 in the direction opposite that required in the preceding paragraph, the pawls disengaging and automatically re-engaging by reason of pressure exerted upon them by springs 38, this free motion in no way affects the feature of unremovability of cover I4, but instead, increases and insures the functioning of the cutters or locks 26. Ratchet 39 is solidly fastened to cylindrical member I5, and both are then inserted into dome cap I6, which action automatically engages the pair of pawls 31 which together with springs 38 are solidly fastened to domev cap I6. A plate 40, Figure '1, having an aperture 42 to allow cylindrical member `I 5 to run freely therethrough, and breather holes 21, as shown in Figure '1, is then solidly fastened by screws 4I or otherwise to dome cap I6, thereby enclosing and encasing the complete ratchet arrangement 39 in dome cap I6. The combination of the complete dome cap I6, with the ratchet arrangement 39 enclosed therein, together with the cylindrical member I5, acting in conjunction with cutters or locks 28, make it impossible to .remove the gasoline tank cover when once installed in tank neck II.

This ratchet arrangement is comprised oi' a ratchet ang as, with teeth cut into 1t, which ring is solidly fastened to the cylindrical member I5,

and positioned just over the annular plate 40, a pair of pawls 31 and a pair of springs 36 fastened to cover I6. These parts are so constructed and so positioned that in assembling this gasoline tank cover I4 the pawls 31 by reason of the pressure exerted upon them by the springs 38, as appears more specifically in Figure 6, automatically engage the ratchet 39. Said ratchet arrangement, being a one way ratchet permits rotation of cover I6, relative to cylindrical member I5, only when cover I6 is rotated counterclockwise. relative to cylindrical member I5 clockwise pawls 31 will engage ratchet 33 and prevent the relative rotation of cover I6 and cylindrical member I5. Upon inserting the assembled siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover I4 into gasoline tank neck II, the said cover is turned in the clockwise direction to secure it to tank neck II, at the conventional interrupted screw I2, in the same manner that the conventional cap now commonly used is secured. The ratchet arrangement hereinbefore described does not permit relative rotation between cylindrical member I5 and cover I6, in this direction, but on the contrary locks this siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover I4 as a unit and thereby cooperates with cutters and/or locks 28. l

Ratchet 39, as stated, only permits relative rotation between cylindrical member I5 and cover I6 when said cylindrical member I5 is rotated counterclockwise. 'I'hus while cover I6 may be rotated counterclockwise relative to cylindrical member I5 after this cover I4 is completely assembled and inserted in the gasoline tank neck I I, the relative rotation permitted is limited only to the cover I6 and couldlnot effect the disengagement of cutters and/or locks 28 from interrupted screw I2. If cover I6 is rotated clockwise the sole effect is to more securely engage the cutters and/or locks 28 with the interrupted screw I2. Thus with this arrangement it is impossible toremove this cover I4 comprising this invention, from the gasoline tank by rotating the said cover I4 and it is therefore, permanently and irremovably positioned. Since this siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover has been purposely so designed that screws 4I are not accessible when 1 the said siphon and theftproof gasoline tank cover I4 is inserted in the gasoline tank the said cover I4 is definitely irremovable and definitely obviates any possibility of fraudulently and unlawfully siphoning and withdrawing of gasoline and/or other fuel from the gasoline tank.

In order to eliminate the possibility of gasoline or other similar fluids being jarred out of the gasoline tank between cap I6 and tank neck II there is placed on the underside of cap I6 a leather washer 3| which by reason of the clamping action of the lock or cutter 28 on interrupted screw I2 pulls or draws cap I6 down tightly onto tank neck II thereby making it as secure as the conventional cap now commonly employed and preventing theft or removal of the said cover I4. The valve 22 is provided with a V-shaped ridge or spacer 29 projecting upwards, which ridge or spacer 23 is especially designed to render impossible the closing, choking or otherwise obstructing in any manner whatsoever the mouth or opening of the nozzle 32 of the gasoline hose 33 when same is placed onto valve 22.

This specially designed feature 29 eliminates, obviates and does away with the possibility of If it is attempted to rotate cover I6 anarco choking, clogging, closing or otherwise obstructing the mouth or opening of the nozzle 32 of the gasoline hose 33 by reason of the top of valve 22 fitting tightly and snugly into the aforesaid opening in the nozzle 32.

In operation, in order to pour gasoline or any other fluid as hereinbefore provided, into the tank I0, the top of the dome cap I6 and valve 22 will first be wiped off to remove any dust or other dirt or matter that may have accumulated thereon and then nozzle 32 of the gasoline hose 33 is merely pressed thereagainst, thereby depressing the valve 22, permitting the nozzle 32 to enter in opening 25 and allowing gasoline, etc., to enter into cylindrical member I5 whence it escapes through the V-slots I1 and apertures I8 of cylindrical member I5 into tank I0.

Spring 23 is a sufficiently stiff spring so as to securely hold the valve head 22 in closed position and further so as to require a rigid member of at least the weight and mass of the conventional gas hose nozzle 32, now commonly employed to depress the same and thereby open the port 25. As a result of this and of the limited space between lthe edges of the valve 22 and the inside of the cylindrical member I5, it is impossible to insert a rubber hose or any other conduit or member into tank Il) for the purpose of fraudulently and unlawfully siphoning the gasoline therefrom.

Further. member I5 is of such short length that it will not normally .reach to the gasoline level in the tank I0 unless tank III be so full as to be overflowing. Even if a rigidconduit should be inserted through port 25 while valve 22 were held depressed, it would be impossible to siphon any gasoline from tank Il) because the sidewalls of the cylindrical member I5 would' prevent the end of the conduit from reaching the gasoline level.

The novel features of the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detaiLit is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed and that changes may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spiritof the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention what is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture for use with fuel storage tanks having a fuelreceiving opening provided with an interrupted screw, a cover for said fuel receiving opening comprising a cylindrical member insertable in said opening, a cover for said cylindrical member, locking means iasf tened to said cylindrical member adapted when said cylindrical member is rotated in one direction to lock said cylindrical member to said interrupted screw, and one-way movement means cooperating with said cylindrical member, the said locking means fastened thereto and said cover allowing rotation of said cylindrical member in` said one direction but preventing rotation of said cylindrical member in a direction opposite to said one direction. I

2. As an article of manufacture for use with fuel storage tanks having a fuel receiving opening provided with an interrupted screw, a cylinder insertable in said opening, means fastened to said vcylinder adapted to lock said cylinder to said interrupted screw when said cylinder is rotated in one direction, a dome cover for said cylinder having a normally closed depressible valve therein adapted to cover the external end of said cylinder, an annular plate fastened to said dome cover and extending to said cylinder, a rachet fastened to said cylinder, pawls adapted to engage said rachet fastened on said dome cover, said rachet and pawls being arranged to prevent rotation of said dome cover relative to said cylinder in the direction necessary to engage said locking means with said interrupted screw and allow rotation of dome cover relative to cylinder in the direction opposite to the aforesaid one direction and to lock said dome cover and said cylinder for rotation as a unit in said one direction.

3. .As an article of manufacture for use with fuel storage tanks having a fuel receiving opening provided with an interrupted screw, a siphon and theftproof cover comprised of a cylindrical meinber, a dome cover positioned on one end of said cylindrical member, a pair of automatic locks positioned for engagement with said interrupted screw and attached to said cylindrical member, an annular plate attached to said cover, a rachet attached to said cylindrical member and posi tioned between said plate and said cover, pawls supported from said cover and adapted to engage said rachet, said rachet and pawls being arranged lil iii

to allow relative'rnovernent of the cylindrical member and cover-when the cover is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and prevent relative i rotation when cover is rotated clockwise, where- .for said fuel receiving opening comprising a cylindrical member, a dome cover for said cylindrical member adapted to cover the external end of said cylinder, having a normally closed depressim ble valve therein, an annular plate fastened to said dome cover and entending to said cylinder, a leather washer thereunder, a one-way ratchet arrangement above said annular plate and a pair of automatic locks positioned to engage said interrupted screw and attached to the said cylinder on the side of and near the top of said cylinder on a line with said interrupted screw in gasoline tank neck, said locks including a block of steel to which is attached a hardened piece of steel ground to a sharp edge and set at an angle.

5. As an articleof manufacture for use with ,fuel storage tanks having a fuel receiving open ing provided with an interrupted screw, a cylinder insertable in said opening, said cylinder teint provided with a plurality of different shaped perforations in the side walls thereof to permit the pouring in of fuel into the said gasoline tank, said different shaped perforations being of such size as to prevent inserting therethrough any siphoning means, means fastened to the said cylinder adapted to lock said cylinder to said intenl rupted screw when the said cylinder is rotated in one direction, a dome cover for said cylinder having a hole thereima normally closed depressible valve, adapted to seat on the edges of said hole from within said cylinder, an annular plate fastened to said cylinder, a ratchet fastened to said plate, pawls adapted to engage said ratchet fastened to said cover. said ratchet and pawls being arranged to lock said dome cover and said cylinder as a unit in one direction and to allow rotation of said dome cover relative to said cylinder in the direction opposite to the aforesaid one direction.

6. As an article of manufacture for use with tanks having a material receiving opening provided with an interrupted screw, a cylinder indit tit

dit.

ou lv sei-table in said opening, said cylinder having perforations therein for the passage of material therethrough, locking means fastened to said cylinder adapted to engage said `interrupted screw when said cylinder is rotated in one direction, a cover for said cylinder, one-way clutching mechanism connected to said cylinder and said cover, said clutching mechanism 'being such that said cylindei` rotates with said cover in the direction required to engage said locking means with said interrupted screw.

7. As an article of manufacture for use with tanks having a material receiving opening provided with an interrupted screw, a cover for said material receiving opening comprised of a cylinder insertable in said opening, a cover for said cylinder, locking means fastened to said cylinder adapted to engage said interrupted screw, oneway clutching mechanism connected to said cyl- Inder and said cover, said clutching mechanism cooperating with said locking means, allowing rotation of said cylinder and said cover together, in the direction necessary to eiTect engagement of said locking means and said interrupted screw,

and allowing free relative rotation oi' the cover 10 alone, in the direction opposite the said one direction, without loosening the said engagement between said locking means and the said interrupted screw.

JOHN A. ROBERTS. 15 

